Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Author Lynette Endicott is celebrating the release of OUT OF AGONY in paperback by giving away a signed autograph copy! Get your entries by entering below.

Brian Van Pelt has barely survived an anguished year of loss, hiding his sorrows under the facade of a cool and uncaring attorney. Not able to deny his grief any long, heartache drives him to collapse and his life takes an unexpected turn. When Jessie Ingram comes to work at his law firm, she is intrigued by the conflicting darkness of Brian's behavior and the tender inconsistencies that hint at something deeper within him. Despite her interest, she has her own pain, supporting her niece Sara, who has a virulent cancer with aggressive treatments that take such a toll they would not be worth it — except they are Sara's only hope of survival. Will life’s hardships bring Brian and Jessie together? Will they be able to heal and possibly find love?

Lynette Endicott grew up in Illinois, met her husband in Western Nebraska, lived 25 years in Kansas where their daughter was born, and has been in Fresno, California since 2000. She has a son-in-law (who lives with her daughter nearby), and has rescued a dog, a bird and three cats. She and Ollie, her terrier mix, volunteer as a team at the local library, where children read to the dog. At a youth camp when she was 14 the editor and teacher of a writing class challenged her to submit something to his youth magazine. She did and it was the first of 10 articles and stories accepted by the publication over the next few years. Nothing like front end success to keep her writing! Lynette enjoys reading contemporary romance and speculative fiction and writes both. Her debut book, Starting Over Book One: More Than A Job, and two more books in that series, The Return of Joy and Finding Her Voice are available now. The first three of the Time After Time Saga with Tami Dee are available now, including Animal Instinct, Survival Instinct and Pioneer Instinct. The fourth in the series of six, Protective Instinct, will release in August 2014. Because she didn't have pets until after her 50th birthday the animals she enjoys find their way into all her books. Usually you will also find a character with a disability as part of the day-to-day fabric of the story. In More Than A Job, Paige works in services to people with disabilities until she loses her job and starts over. In The Return of Joy, Atlas, the yellow lab, becomes a Therapy Dog. In the Time After Time series animal helpers assist the hero and heroine in all six of the books in the series.

BLURB
A disillusioned journalist and the grieving daughter of a murdered scientist uncover an immoral and destructive global plot by the largest developer of genetically engineered seed and its parent pharmaceutical conglomerate.
Nick Barnes and Morgan Elles learn that the goal of the man behind these organizations is the complete control of human existence. He eliminates opposition and interference without hesitation or remorse.
The couple quickly find themselves fighting for their lives. And yours.
Grad hold for a wild ride with this exciting, high concept thriller that tackles one of the big issues of our time.

AUTHOR BIO
Lawrence Verigin’s goal is to entertain readers while delving into socially relevant subjects that need more attention brought to them. Since 1999 Lawrence has spent a considerable amount of time and effort learning the writing craft.
In his spare time Lawrence enjoys cooking good food, rich red wine, travel, running, reading and numerous rounds of golf.
Lawrence and his wife, Diana, live in beautiful North Vancouver, Canada.
Contact
Email: lawrenceverigin@gmail.com
Website: www.lawrenceverigin.com
Facebook: Lawrence Verigin
Twitter: @lawrenceverigin
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1qsWlJB

The author is giving away 8 digital copies of Dark Seed and 2 signed copies! Below is the Rafflecopter code to include in your blog post:

GOODNIGHT SAM by Inger Iversen ~ The tragic history of Sam and Hope, who have existed as vampires since the eighteenth century. Sam has grown weary of the new world along with the escalating conflicts of his kind and wishes to attain peace in what is know as 'the true death', while Hope desperately desires to pursue a more fulfilling life together.

ONE NIGHT WITH A VAMPIRE by Rozlyn Sparks ~ Sometimes the only way to forget the pain of a broken heart is to get back in the saddle. At least that is how Daphne’s friends see it. And since Daphne isn’t showing any signs of letting that happen, they take it into their own hands. Blindfolded, Daphne is whisked away to the famed, House of Immortal Pleasures, a vampire-run Brothel in Pahrump, Nevada, for a night of fun to exorcise her demons of boyfriends gone bad..

ALONG CAME A KILLER by Dicey Grenor ~ He’s a vampire who has found his calling in being a hired killer. Nothing’s better than taking out his targets, until he gets one he’s unsure how to handle. **This novelette (app. 12,000 words) occurs at the end of Sleepy Willow’s Loosed Soul (Vol. 3), before the Epilogue. One of the characters makes it to Wolf’s Fire (Vol. 3.2). Read to find out which one. If you are new to The Narcoleptic Vampire Series, ALONG CAME A KILLER can be read out of order or as a standalone.**

INDIGO by Willsin Rowe ~ After nine centuries, Caleb Durant believes he’s seen all the world can offer. Life has lost its music, and even hunting has become monotonous. But when he catches the essence of curvy young violist, Indigo Byrne, everything changes. Is she the one to bring music back into his immortal existence?

CRIMSON ADDICTION by Emily Walker ~ Vampire services are the norm now that they’ve decided to work alongside humans. Some of the services provided are more taboo than others. One night of bliss with a monster is never enough. Tamara should’ve known anything that good was just too dangerous. Now it’s the only thing consuming her thoughts. How will she ever escape its grip?

HALLOWEEN FANTASIES by Rozlyn Sparks ~ Touted as the sexiest party of the year, the annual Halloween Fantasy Ball is the one place a girl can let loose and succumb to her wildest fantasies.

Disguised as a sexy vampire huntress, Sasha captures the attention of Dante, a real life creature of the night. For Sasha, meeting bona-fide vampire is enough to fulfill one of her life long fantasies. She’s ready to go home a happy woman.

But Dante has other plans. It is after all, a night of fantasies, and he has a few of his own to share.

FOR THE LOVE OF RENATA by Lissette E. Manning ~ Renata Lorrie never expected to feel the way she does, most especially when it comes to her beloved Jackie. Amidst the ensuing chaos, she gives in to her hunger and insatiable desires. When love and passion collide, anything is possible, a certainty she’s learning every step of the way.

BITTEN by Morgan Black ~ Eve Mallory is a stuck up prude with a dead end newspaper job. But when her boss offers her a chance to write a story about the hottest sex club in town her whole world changes. Eve thinks she’s just at Red to get the scoop, she never expects to be brought into the elite circle of Vampires who are wealthy, beautiful, and hungry. Possibly for her blood. And then there's Derek, with his piercing blue eyes, incredible build, and smug understanding of Eve. Why does he know so much about her? And what is it about his touch that makes her tremble?

BLOOD PURPLE, BOOK ONE OF THE BLOOD SERIES by Ashley Nemer ~ In a world we think we know, live other races entirely hidden from the mortal perspective. Creatures of legend, of fable and myth, their very history and nature have allowed them to walk side by side with humans since time immemorial. They are warriors, they are hunters, and they are Algula. Vampire. And in their own midst, a battle is brewing for supremacy, for dominance, that can and will affect all around them. Old hatred never dies and vengeance is a fiery sword that cuts a bloody swath.

THE ROSE CHRONICLES by Julieanne Lynch ~ Young, beautiful and naive, Bianka doesn't understand the price she has to pay with being the chosen one. The choices she makes will forever change life as she knows it. More so when she becomes a vampire with insatiable thirsts and desires.

Title: BEST FRIENDS FANTASY LOVERS
Author: DICEY GRENOR
Source: Author gave this to me in exchange for an honest review
Purchase Link: AMAZON

BLURB

Friendship has never been so tempting...

Tommy and Capri have different backgrounds, goals, and motivations.

He's an Irish guitarist in a new band with dreams of being a rock star, and not one serious bone in his body outside of playing music.

She's an American valedictorian, who takes her responsibilities seriously, and dreams of being at the top of her profession.

Despite Tommy and Capri’s initial attraction to each other, both know a relationship is doomed from the start. In lieu of romance, they become best friends who share everything, including their ambition to succeed, their desire to make each other laugh, even their hidden secrets and darkest fantasies. When they begin to act out their fantasies with each other, non-platonic feelings start to creep in, and they must decide whether their friendship can survive what neither of them wants—being in love.

REVIEW

This was the first novel of Dicey's that I have read and I found her writing style fun and light. It made me want to read more from her.

Best Friends Fantasy Lovers was an interesting story. It goes from Capri and Tommy first meeting each other during Capri's freshman year of college. Then jumps to four years later and then five years after that.

What I liked about the story is with the traveling through time it allowed the story to move fairly swiftly. There wasn't any of that lagging you sometimes find with stories that travel through long periods of the main characters lives. I liked that Dicey kept it quick.

The plot was nice. I felt it was somewhat believable, assuming Tommy could be a superstar rock star.

Overall I would give this novel a 4 star review. It kept me captivated. I enjoyed the characters. And I liked the solid plot.

It should be said that while this story starts out sex free it doesn't end that way. Ms. Grenor asks that this story be read for 'adult only' ages.

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Falling leaves. Chilly temperatures. Fall has arrived with a bang. It’s
the perfect time of year for reading! Enter this giveaway for your
chance to win Amazon gift cards or some great ebook prize packages to
fill your Kindle with. We’ve partnered with several great authors to
offer you enough excellent reads to last you through the
season. Organized by Fire and Ice Book Tours!

*Five WINNERS!* Click on the links above to read the blurbs.Must be 18 or over to enter. This giveaway is open worldwide! Ends at
12:00 AM on 11/1/14. This giveaway is not sponsored or endorsed by
Facebook, Twitter, or Rafflecopter.

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

To say that this interview excites me would be a gross understatement. Every since I can remember reading adult books only one author comes to mind as that 'favorite author' and that's, Tami Hoag.

When she replied to my inbox to her asking if I could interview her I jumped with joy.

Ms. Hoag's writing has done more for me than any other author and one day I hope to meet her. My best friend got me hooked on her in high school. She's been a 'bonding' source for Laura and I.

I safely can say I have read every one of her books and there isn't a single one I can remember putting down and thinking, "meh." All of her works are practically perfection and help to transport me out of my current reality and bring me into her wonderful worlds.

Here is a link to my latest review of Ms. Hoag's newest release, The 9th Girl. I seriously loved it!

So without further delay ... Here is the wonderful interview with myself and the very talented, Tami Hoag!

~~INTERVIEW~~

Ms. Hoag - Thank you for taking the time to virtually visit Memories In A Box blog. I have to admit, you are the interview I have secretly hoped for since I started this blog. My first question for you is pretty simple ... What made you start writing?

---I've had a love of books as long as I can remember--before I could read them by myself, even. As soon as I learned how to put sentences together, I wanted to be a writer.

When you were starting off, was there ever a moment where you just knew this was what you were meant to be or did you wake up one day and everything suddenly lined up all in your favor.

---I always knew this was what I wanted to do, and I was always determined to make it happen.

As I mentioned in my email Ashes to Ashes was the first novel I read of yours. What inspired you to write it? And Dust to Dust? I loved those two books.

--- ASHES TO ASHES was inspired by a real-life case--or series of cases, I should say. Someone was murdering women, placing their bodies in a Minneapolis park and setting them on fire. I was watching the coverage on the news, and was shocked, horrified, fascinated (as every suspense writer would be), but when I spoke to friends who lived in Minneapolis, the story wasn't even on their radar because the victims were street prostitutes. My friends didn't feel any real sense of danger to their lives. I found that sad because, while the victims' lives had taken a bad turn that led them to prostitution, they still had parents and families that loved them and mourned them. Their lives were no less precious than the life of a spoiled rich socialite, in my opinion. So I wanted to write about that.

---DUST TO DUST developed in an entirely different way. There was no true-story inspiration. The idea grew out of a lot of little "what if" questions.

My favorite novel of yours is Dark Paradise. I remember thinking that when I finally married and settled down not only did I have to do it in Montana but it had to be with a man just like JD Rafferty. How did you come up with these two great characters and why did you pick that setting?

---That's so funny because JD and I butted heads every step of the way through that book. I kept thinking he was the most contrary man I had ever dealt with. Marilee was inspired by a woman I met who had been a court reporter for a long time. I think we all see the court reporter doing her thing in the courtroom and get this idea that they're all prim and proper and buttoned up. They look so calm and cool. I had never considered the stress that comes with that job As for the setting, Montana is a favorite place of mine. It's just so incredibly beautiful and wild and pure, and the small towns have become so wonderfully, weirdly eclectic with the mix of ranchers and artists and Hollywood people. Wonderful from a writer's standpoint, at least. That influx of outsiders can also be a source of conflict, which was what I wanted to write about.

Another one of my fav's is Lucky ... what's that all about? Where was he from, is he a figment of your imagination or is Lucky's Lady based on anyone you happen to know?

---Lucky was entirely a figment of my imagination, I'm sad to say!

Is it hard for you, after all of these years, to keep your stories fresh?
---Not really. I'm a very curious person, so I always have new questions to ask and always find new angles and perspectives from which to examine the questions.

I feel like, as a reader, your work has shifted from romance, to mystery/romance to now more solid mysteries. I'm not complaining at all! I love all of them ... but why the transformation?

----For me, all stories are about the psychology of the characters and the dynamics of their interpersonal relationships. Suspense allows me to explore the darker elements of people's minds and relationships, and gives me more latitude for different types of characters. For instance, Elena Estes from DARK HORSE and THE ALIBI MAN. She's a very flawed and not always likable heroine I probably wouldn't have been allowed to write in romance. In romance you want a heroine you would be friends with in real life. In suspense you don't necessarily have to like her, you have to want to understand her, which is trickier to write. But I like writing the grittier, edgier stuff, and I like not being bound to wrap the story up in a pretty, happy big red bow at the end.

I have a lot of indie and small press author friends and we are always looking for ways to sharpen our craft and polish our novels. Do you have any advice?

---I'm very much a "method actor" type of writer. I need to fully immerse myself in my characters, and feel really passionate about telling their story. This can be a bit of a descent into madness, but I think it's the thing that gives depth and weight and realism to what I write. But every writer is different. It's a different journey we take for different reasons. I often wish I could be more detached and analytical as I write, but that isn't who I am. I guess the lesson is that you have to find your own voice and be true to it.

Do you have any regrets about your books? Something you wish you would have done just a bit differently?

----I try not to do that to myself. When I finish a book I always tell myself I did the very best I could at that time in my life, and I let it go. And once it's published I will rarely look at it again.

When you sit down and write, do you have any rituals that you must do? I know I prefer to have certain music on to help me focus. And others who have to sit in a certain chair.

---I have my writer's den, and I'm a creature of habit. I'm on my fifth ochre yellow and white office. I have the world's most ergonomically correct chair (I'm on my third one of those). Depending on where I'm at in the process I will either have the tv on in the background or music. I need that little bit of sound going on. When I'm deep into deadline I will run the same three or four movies over and over and over in the background because I don't have to pay attention to them, but the voices are familiar, like having friends keeping me company. And at the bitter end of deadline, like many writers I know, I will crave orange-dyed junk food. For COLD COLD HEART it was crunchy Cheetos. For THE 9th GIRL it was cool ranch Doritos.

The 9th Girl, wow. I have to say that I didn't see that playing out like it did. Really had me by surprise. What made you come up with that plot? Usually when I read your stories I can kind of see where things are heading but this one really caught me off guard. I really loved Zombie Doe.

---The thing is, I seldom know how a book is going to twist at the end. I might have an idea when I start, but as the story unfolds (I don't write from an outline) and the characters develop, that will change many times before I get to the end--and I mean right up to the very climax of the book. So I'm always amused when someone says they knew who the killer was on page 210 because I probably didn't know until page 510.

I know Cold Cold Heart is next in your new releases but what is coming up after that? Any little hints you could give me?

---I work on a ridiculously short timeline, so I have nothing in the pipeline. I just signed off (It's October as I write this) on the last of the edits for COLD COLD HEART, which comes out in January. So I'm now just in the idea phase of the next project, trying to decide who's dead and why. I know it will be another Kovac and Liska book. Following THE 9th GIRL, Liska has transferred out of homicide to the cold case unit, which means Sam is having to adjust to a new partner, and is extremely cranky about the whole thing. Kovac's motto is Change is Bad.

Thank you so very much for taking the time to stop at Memories In A Box. You have no idea what a thrill this was for me and how much I will cherish this. The only thing to top this would be to meet you in person.

She is now fighting against time and family to reclaim the decisions that will ultimately shape her destiny.

Sentenced to live an existence in the Underworld, mated to a man she despises, Zara must find a way to overcome the Gods and their curses, with love as her only guide.

Can James, a sailor, help Zara break the bonds of magical spells or will she end up mated to Xander, the Son of Satan?

Take a dive Under the Moonlight to see where love can take you.

EXCERPT

CHAPTER ONE

2014

Zara couldn’t help staring at the vessels that
passed by her cove. Each one contained a different story and a different
set of sailors. Her father had warned her that interacting with the
humans, or even simply studying them, was an addiction, one she would
soon have to learn to overcome. Each mermaid was presented with the same
challenge on their twenty-second birthday. They each had to make a
choice to stay in the waters and live with their families, or to give up
everything they had always known, for love, and join the human race.

For thousands of years, the merpeople had joined the two-legged humans’
culture, going undetected. And it wasn’t as if mermaids could never go
into the waters again afterwards. Each full moon they had the
opportunity to dive into the salty water of the ocean and join their
fellow merpeople under the moonlight. However, each full moon that
passed made that transition harder and harder for the mermaid to
accomplish. The longer they were out of the ocean and away from their
mer-form, the harder it was on their body to shift back to their
original form.

She knew that her decision was about to be due. She
hadn’t told anyone what she was thinking about choosing; she didn’t want
the added pressure from King Triton, her father, and his brother,
Poseidon, her uncle. Humans always got the lineage wrong in their
stories. So many of the gods were intertwined that they all ended up
being related to one another in some way or another, but the rules for
joining the human race were strict. A merperson could only marry once,
and it could only be for love. Any other reason wouldn’t be approved.
You had to have King Triton’s blessing in order to make the final
conversion into the human world.

“What are you looking at, Zara?”

Her head whipped around to the side to look at Sadie, her mother, who was
swimming in the lagoon. “That ship out there. It comes by here every day
around this time, like they are just waiting.”

“You only say that because you don’t know them yet. Everyone is a shark to you,” Zara retorted.

“Men are men, Zara. They will kill to get what they want.”

“Is
that what you tell Daddy?” Zara valued her mother and knew that she
would always be there to support her, but she worried that her mother
was constantly trying to sway her against all human men and make her
change her mind about the choices she had spinning around in her head.

“Your father is different. Gods know how to treat their women,” she said flatly.

“No,
they don’t, Mother. You are just blinded by love.” She watched the
curve of her mother’s lips come up and form a smile. It was the truth.
Her mother and father were very much in love, even after all these years
and hundreds of children. Humans talked about having large families
with nine or ten siblings. They should try having two hundred and fifty
nine sisters and twice as many brothers.

“And what a blindness to have. You should be so lucky, young lady.”

“One day, Mother, maybe I will be.”

Ashley is married and lives in Houston with
her husband Tony. They have two dogs named Toto and Doogie. They have been
together for over 10 years and he brings her more joy than she could ever
imagine as a child. She loves to read and has been hooked on the romance genre
ever since her lifelong best friend gave her "Ashes to Ashes' by Tami Hoag
to read when they were younger.

Ashley finds her strength through her family, especially her parents. They always
support her in life, they push her to strive for greatness. There once was a
motto that Ashley heard in her youth through her Taekwondo life 'Reach for the
Stars' and that is what Ashley has always done. It was through her upbringing
that the values Ashley has and display's came from. With her Parents always
cheering her on in life she was able to grow up having faith in herself and her
ability to conquer the world

Twenty-one-year-old Serena Thomas is faced with a tough decision. Unable to get ahead of debt and loneliness since her grandmother’s death she finds a new job, placing the sheltered virgin in an underground escort business. She tells herself it’s just a temporary life choice, but destiny has a different plan. She meets a mysterious and gorgeous man, who happens to be her new boss. Will Serena fit in or will she be left all alone again?

Lincoln (aka: Linc) Jefferson has an unusual life. He established The Lounge, an exclusive escort club for very personal reasons. A place where the women say who, when, and what type of sex they’re willing to have. The escorts possess all the power and the money. It’s a business Linc guards at all costs. Trying to maintain the secrecy is a constant challenge and one that’s tested when he enters into a relationship with Serena. She tempts him unlike any woman, even though he’s surrounded by beauty on a daily basis. The more time they spend together the harder it is for him to keep his secrets. Will Serena stand by his side or will she abandon him?

Sparks and passion fly, taking these two on a journey neither could have expected.

C.C. Koen writes contemporary romance with a twist. An avid reader who enjoys mystery and suspense, her stories will never be what you expect. Determined to find adventure in her dreams and life, she enjoys skydiving, sailing and any activity that challenges her. Teacher by day, romance writer at night produce an active imagination that comes to life in her writing. Intensity is her debut novel.

Sunday, October 19, 2014

Title: Crosswinds
Author: N.R. White
Source: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
Purchase Link: Amazon

Blurb

Stranded in an airport during a storm, a random act of kindness and an unexpected encounter leads to a life-changing experience for a young sailor on his way to his first duty station overseas. When Bobby walked into the airport's only smoking lounge and asked to bum a smoke, Jack knew there was a reason a crosswind had unexpectedly blown the sailor into his path. It wasn't until several hours later that Jack realized the exact purpose of their chance encounter

ReviewI am extremely undecided about this novel. What I do know is the author has a beautiful writing style and excellent quality. What I am unsure about is the blot itself.There have been a lot of books that I have read this year and in my life and this one is easily not like any of them. Most novels revolve around tow characters but what was unusual about this story is it was two men. One older and one younger, both sailors. They come together after the airlines have downed planes to bond over cigarettes, alcohol and burgers.It was entertaining, for the most part. It wasn't a novel I would instantly say go out and read like now because I don't think my friends as a whole enjoy the more spiritual and moving type novels. There wasn't the action, adventure and romance that I am used to reading or seeing my friends read.But that doesn't mean it was a bad novel. I just don't think it was necessarily my type of novel.I'm going to have to give this story 3.5 stars

Friday, October 17, 2014

Blurb:Alexander Wolfe is a billionaire whose priorities used to include
work, money and total control. No longer. He now has only one obsession:
his beautiful new fiancée Lila, whose combined innocence and sultry
femininity drive him to the brink. Their attraction began as an
uncontrollable lust and has bloomed into an all-encompassing love affair
that awes them both. If Alexander could have it his way, he would
confine Lila to his private penthouse and bask in the glow of her
sensual charms day and night.But when reality forces its way into Alexander and Lila’s private
world in the form of Alexander’s supermodel ex-girlfriend, Alexander’s
brother Jake’s impending prison sentence, and a very persistent work
colleague of Alexander’s – who just happened to be present at a recent
wild night of poker that got a little out of control – things get
complicated.Will the drama drive them apart, or is Alexander and Lila’s love strong enough to get them to the altar?HONEY GIRL is the second book in the BILLIONAIRE series (and can also stand alone).Also by Juliette Jones:
BILLIONAIRE
WILD RIDE

Excerpt:HONEY GIRL by Juliette Jones (Chapter 1)

Lila

He
lay next to me, still asleep. His black hair was all askew, framing his
face in artful, silky disarray. The cinnamon skin of his brawny
shoulders looked dark, as always, next to my pale curves. He lay on his
stomach, his face turned towards me, his muscular arm curled around a
pillow. His full lips were barely parted, his face peaceful. He looked
young in his sleep. Relaxed. That visceral, male aggression that clung
to him softened when he slept, but the innate arrogance was somehow
still there. In the curve of his mouth. In his strong features and the
dark stripes of his eyebrows. I watched him sleep for a few minutes,
fascinated by his mesmerizing flawlessness. He was astoundingly
beautiful.

He
had the build of an athlete. Tall and toned with graceful bones.
Powerful, with the kind of strength that draws your eye and makes you
aware of it. Of how easily it would be for him to use it. On you. Of
how brutal he could be when he drove his immense, thick, hard-as-stone
cock deep into you, forcing wave after wave of raw, lustrous pleasure.

I
could have touched him, with feather-light strokes across his
shoulders. Down his back. I could have rubbed myself against him and
kissed his perfect lips, licking him, tasting the minted, drugging
flavor of him. I knew he’d be instantly ready for me.

Alexander was always ready.

But today was the day I was starting my new job. As Alexander’s assistant.

Not as his assistant, I reminded myself. As his business partner.

This
whirlwind romance had not only landed me a gorgeous sex-god of a
fiancé, it had also placed me at the right hand of one of the most
powerful CEOs in New York City: founder, owner and mastermind of Wolfe
Enterprises. Alexander was the executive of the esteemed and hugely
successful magazine Skyscraper.
He also owned two major book publishers and ran several investment
companies, hedge funds, and a number of cash cow Internet businesses.

He
was a type-A genius with a dark side and a voracious carnal appetite.
Which he took out on me whenever he got the opportunity. Which was, it
had to be said … often.

It
was Monday morning. Early. Earlier than we usually woke. We’d become
night owls, the two of us. Darkness was our erotic haven, where we could
exist only for each other.

I
didn’t regret a single decision. Of course I didn’t. But sometimes when
I stopped to think about things, like now, in the quiet of a
purple-skied dawn, I almost felt a sense of vertigo from the gargantuan
shift my life had taken over the course of exactly two months.

Two months.

Two months ago, I’d been a capable yet fumbling, unemployed, broke, virginal
recent-graduate who dressed in baggy clothes, wore unfashionable
glasses, had a bad haircut and who preferred to keep all members of the
opposite sex at arm’s length. And now? Well, times had most definitely
changed. At least when it came to one particular member of the opposite
sex.

I lay in the semi-darkness and took in my surroundings. The heavy, decorative drapes that framed Alexander’s – our
– bedroom windows were never drawn. We were too high up to be visible
to the mortals down below. Our view overlooked the distant streets, the
treetops of Central Park, the gritty, graceful skyline of some of New
York’s most expensive real estate. It was early October and the deep
indigo of the city night hung on. The quiet, expansive room hummed with
plush, cocooned luxury. Alexander’s bed was huge, swathed in expensive
cotton and silk, most of which had been displaced and/or rumpled by our
lovemaking.

At
this, I’d proven a prodigy. Whoever thought virgins took things slow
once they finally got going at the advanced age of twenty … well, they
hadn’t put me in a locked room with Alexander Wolfe. It had taken all of
thirty minutes for us to get not only intimate but downright feral.
There had been a desperation to it that I still couldn’t explain.
Physically, we were like magnets. Greedy, superstrength magnets who had
no choice or control. None of it made sense, really. That we’d been
willing to risk everything to get as close as humanly possible from that
very first encounter – and every encounter since. Who does that? What highly educated, soon-to-be professional, modern woman throws all – and I mean all – caution to the wind just to get down and dirty with a ridiculously sexy, overconfident billionaire?

This one, apparently.

He was my drug and my addiction. With him, lines became skewed and normal considerations simply did not apply. To not get close to him proved impossible. To not want to get close to him seemed insane.

Amazon Best Sellers

Ashley's Business Partner

Stacy Moran is the Co-Authors of the Sekhmet's Revenge. Stacy and Ashley have been friends over four years and together they have helped each other grow as writers and individuals. They are unsure of where it is going but are excited at what the future holds. Since the start of their publishing company, The Art of Safkhet, new worlds and adventures have opened up for them and they can't wait to see where they get to travel too. Click for Stacy's Facebook Page and Blogspot

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Ashley's Peep'sBLOGS

Knights of Geekdom is a podcast/blog hosted by Ashley's Husband and a couple of his friends. It's adult geared and a bit of fun. Ashley on occasion hops in as a guest.

Texas Travel Girl is run by one of Ashley's friends from college. They travel to different comic events together and have known each other going on about 9 years. Check out her place if you want to sight-see around Texas! Her new blog is The Cubicle Escapee for all non-Texas Travelings.

Tevya is a dear friend of Ashley's. She is one of the owners of this book review site, it has some amazing authors come through it and if you are looking for a good book to pick up here is your spot to find one.